A First for Facu
Facundo Torres found the back of the net for the Lions on Wednesday night for the third time in all competitions for the side this year, good for his first goal in the U.S. Open Cup. Each of Torres’ finishes have had significant impact for City, with his pair of league finishes both serving as game-winners, while Wednesday evening’s sent the two sides to a penalty shootout, where the Lions ultimately prevailed.
Facing the Toros
City and FC Dallas have split the series in their last three meetings, each taking a 2-0 victory at home before battling to a scoreless stalemate in September 2020. Tesho Akindele scored and earned an assist for the Lions on Aug. 3, 2019 against his former club to lead City to victory, while goalkeeper Pedro Gallese tallied four saves a year later to preserve a clean sheet on the road.
Extending the Record
Mauricio Pereyra extended his own Club-record on Wednesday night, tallying his 29th assist in all competitions on Facundo Torres’ extra time finish against Inter Miami CF. Pereyra leads the side in helpers this year, now with six in all competitions in 2022.
Closing Out the Sprint
Saturday will serve as the third and final match of a three-game stretch in the last seven days for the Lions. The side took a point following a controversial finish in Austin over the weekend before advancing to the Quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night. Following Saturday’s match, the Lions will enjoy over two weeks off from match play due to the international break, set to return to the pitch on Wednesday, June 15 at the New England Revolution.
The FC Dallas Connection
Saturday night will see Head Coach Oscar Pareja square off against his former club for just the second time since being appointed to the helm for Orlando City and the first of which to take place at Exploria Stadium. During his coaching tenure at Dallas, Pareja compiled a 78-49-43 record, featuring a 2016 season that included a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title, the MLS Supporters’ Shield and MLS Coach of the Year honors. Under Pareja’s tenure, FC Dallas reached the postseason in four of five seasons. Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi spent six years in Frisco from 2012-18, serving over Pareja for the entirety of his tenure.
